South African adventure for Animal Studies students

Published

Friday 17 Jul 2015

Myerscough College Animal Studies students have recently returned from working on a conservation project in South Africa.

The now regular trip saw the group based at the Shamwari Game Reserve, near Port Elizabeth, on the Eastern Cape of the country. Whilst there, they carried out a number of activities, including game viewing including elephant, rhino and predator monitoring; community work; helping with a sports day in the local combined school and a sports day at Shamwari for local reserve staff kids including a three legged race and spear throwing; camera trapping and leopard tracking; plant removal and road filling; taking part in lectures in ecology, alien vegetation, anti-poaching, snake and arachnid ID and the lion industry.

The party also conducted research activities including predator views, teenage pregnancy and drugs with local school kids; practical community work such as making fishing rods, walking sticks and baskets to sell; bird watching and also went on a bush sleep out.

The groups adventures in the country didn’t stop there and they also had the opportunity to participate in other exciting activities including great white shark cage diving, bungee jumping, sky diving, waterfall zipping, horse riding, a river boat cruise and a sleep out at the National Park and Reserve.

Tutor, Louise Bell, organised the trip and says: ‘’The students worked within a well-established project and while they are there will learn new life skills and experience things they couldn’t do anywhere else in the world. Again it’s been a great experience for everyone in the group’’.

A spokesperson for the Shamwari Conservation Experience said: ‘’Huge thanks to the Myerscough students and staff for their incredible commitment to the experience. We couldn’t do this excellent work without them and hope that they will soon be back to see what they have made possible. We hope you have had an amazing time and hope to see Myerscough back again next year.’’